Gas-meter



(No Model.)

GAS METER.

2 R. Y T A M A L E D B. E.

N0. 878,888. Patented Mar. 18, 1897.

I (No Model.)4 Y 2 SheetsSheet 2. 'E. B. DE LA MATYR.

GAS METER.

No. 578,865. Patented Mar. 16, 1897.

TN: nonms mins co. Pncrrauwa. wAswncYaN. n c.

NITE Sterns ELIAS B. DE LA MATYR, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GAS-M ETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,865, dated March16, 189'?.

Application filed November 15, 1895. Renewed July 1,1896. Serial No.597,786. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS B. DE LA MATYR, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State ofCalifornia, have invented an Improvement in Gas-Meters; and I herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame.

This invention relates to a novel gas-meter or apparatus for measuringgas which 'is adapted for the continuous iiow of gas therethrough andwhich is actuated by such ilow so as to accurately indicate the quantityof gas which passes through it.

An apparatus embodying my invention embraces as a main feature ofconstruction a revolving measuring-drum having a plurality ofcompartments, each provided with a dexible diaphragm forming a movableside wall, the movement of which increases or decreases the area of thecompartment, a valve actuated by the turning of the drum and acting tobring the compartments at the descending side of the revolving drumsuccessively into communication with the supply-pipe and thecompartments at the rising side of the drum successively intocommunication with the delivery-pipe, and means acting on the movableside walls of the compartments which are in communication with thedelivery-pipe and operating to throw said walls inward, so as to forcethe gas from the said compartments at the same time that thecompartments at the descending side of the drum are expanded by theforce of the gas entering the same and to thereby constantly maintain apreponderance of weight at the descending side of the drum acting tokeep it constantly in rotation. The invention consists in the mattershereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is aview in central vertical section through the casing of a lneterembodying my invention, taken on a plane at right angles to the axis ofthe revolving drum and showing the latter in end elevation. Fig. 2 is asimilar sectional view showing the drum in side elevation. Fig. 3 is asectional view taken on line n n of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is aseotional Viewtaken on line y y of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line .e.e of Fig. 3.

In said drawings, A indicates an outer inclosure, case, or housing, andB-a revolving measuring-drum which is located within the case A and ismounted so as to turn freely therein on a horizontal axis of rotation.The case A may be made of any suitable shape and is made ofproper sizeto allow the drum to turn freely therein. i As herein shown, said case Ais provided with a top wall or cap which is secured to the body of thecase in any suitable manner and which is removable for the purpose ofobtaining access to the interior mechanism for the purpose ot'inspection, adjustment, or repairs. The said drum B is provided with aplurality of compartments, each having a movable wall or diaphragmadapted to be expanded or thrust outwardly by pressure of gas within thecompartment and to be forced inwardly by mechanical means to expel thegas from the compartm ent. The drum may have any desired number ofcompartments and a corresponding number of movable walls or diaphragms.

Gas is supplied to the meter by means of a supply pipe or passage E,which is connected with a chamber D, formed on the end wall of the caseA and from which the gas passes to the compartments of the drum. Adeliverypipe M communicates with the interior of the case A and leads tothe burner or place where the gas is consumed.

In connection with the said drum B, revolubly mounted as described, isemployed a valve, which is actuated by the turning of the drum and whichoperates to admit the gas to and permit its exit from the severalcompartments of the drum in succession as the latter revolves, thepressure of the entering gas from the supply-pipe serving to eX- pandthe compartments as they are successively brought into communicationwith the said supply-pipe and the gas being expelled from the severalcompartments to the delivery-pipe by suitable operative connections bywhich the movable walls of compartments are forced inwardly when thesaid compartments are in communication with the delivery-pipe. The drumis constantly turned by the gravity of the movable walls of the expandedcompartments, which, being at a greater distance from the axis of thedrum than those of the contracted ones, operate to carry the side of IOOthe drum at which the filled compartments are located downwardly, thesaid valve being so arranged that the compartments at the descendingside of the drum will be in communication with the supply-pipe and thoseat the rising side of the drum will be connected with the delivery-pipeof the meter. The amount of gas passing through the meter is indicatedby means of a suitable registering mechanism operated by the revolvingdrum.

Referring now to the particular features of construction in the drumherein shown, the same is constructed in detail as follows: The saiddrum B has the form of a regular polygon and is provided with twoparallel end walls, which are arranged perpendicular to the axis of t-hedrum and between which extend ypartition-walls by which the drum isdivided into a plurality of compartments.

For simplicity and compactness of construction said partitions areradially arranged and terminate at their outer ends at the angles of thepolygonal drum. The drum herein shown for purpose of illustration hasfour compartments, and the end walls are therefore square in form, thecompartments being formed by means of the said end Walls and four radialpartitions J, the four sides or faces of the drum being formed by theflexible walls or diaphragms of the compartments. Said movable walls ordiaphragme are formed of leather or other suitable Hexiblematerial,which will be impervious to gas and least liabley to be injuriouslyacted upon by it, together with metal plates K, so arranged inconnection with the flexible material that they may be moved freelyinward and outward to afford suitable expansion and contraction of thecompartments. The flexible parts of the diaphragms are made sufficientlyfull to enable the latter to be thrust inwardly until close to thepartitions J, so as to force approximately all of the gas from thecompartments and to be correspondingly forced outward when thecompartments are filled with gas.

As herein shown, the metal plates K are made `of triangular form, andtheir outer edges are arranged parallel with the outer margins of thecompartment-walls and have flexible connection with the same, so thatthe inner margins of the plates are free to move outwardly and inwardly.The flexible parts of the diaphragms in this instance consist offiexible uniting-strips, which form air-tight connections between thesaid plates and the margins of the compartments, as well as between theAadjacent edges of the plates themselves7 said strips being secured tosaid parts in such manner as to form hermetically tight joints. rlheflexible connections thus made permit the plates K' kto move outwardlynnder the pressure of gas entering the compartv ments and to be pressedor forced inwardly for the purpose of expelling the contained gas fromthe said compartments. Each of the compartments thus inclosed by the endwalls of the drum, the partitions J, and the ilexible walls providedwith said plates K is adapted to contain a certain quantity of gas whenthe said walls are forced outwardly or distended, and the gas socontained in the compartments is expelled therefrom when the plates areforced inwardly. The adjacent edges of said plates are adjacent to eachother, but out of contact, so that by thrusting the plates inwardly tothe fullest extent practically all of the gas will be expelled from thecompartments. In connection with the diaphragme so provided with movableplates devices are provided for forcing inwardly the plates on therising side of the drum while those on the descending side are beingforced outwardly by the entering gas, whereby a constant flow of gasfrom the compartments will be produced. As a simple and desirable meansof so operating the diaphragme or movable walls of the compartments Ipropose to connect the movable plates K at one side of the Vdrum withthose on the opposite side thereof by suitably-arranged rigidconnections which will insure the plates moving in unison. In theinstance illustrated such rigid connections consist of rectangular yokcsor frames N, which extend around the ends and sides of the drinn and aremade sufficiently larger than the drum to stand at a short distance awayfrom its outer surface. Two of said frames N are shown as used inconnection with each pair of opposite diaphragms, and the oppositelongitudinally arranged parts of said frames, which extend over thcsides of the drum, are connected by links O with the several side platesK or those which extend from end to end of the drum. Transverse bars Nunite the frames N, and these are connected by links Owith the endplates K. All of the plates K on each side of the drum being connectedwith the two frames N, it follows that when the plates on one wall areexpanded by the interior pressure of the gas flowing into thecompartment beneath it those on the opposite wall will be to an equalextent forced inward by the action of the connecting-frames N. Theseveral opposite pairs of diaphragms of the drum are separatelyconnected by rigid connections, so that each pair operates independentlyof the others. The displacement of weight with relation to the center ofmotion, caused by the forcing out of the plates forming the side whichis being expanded and the drawing in of the plates forming the oppositeone which is being contracted, causes the drum to continuously rotate,as before stated.

As hereinbefore stated, the valve which admits the gas to and permitsits exit from the compartments of the drum is operated by the turning ofthe latter and acts to admit gas from the supply-pipe to thecompartments which are at the descending side of the drum `and toconnect the delivery-pipe with the compartments at the ascending side ofthe drum, the admission of gas at the descending IOO IIO

side being necessary in order that the diaphragms at that side shall bemaintained at a greater distance from the axis of the drum than those atthe ascending side in order to keep the drum in constant rotation. Saidvalve is also so made as to admit the gas to and permit its exit fromtwo or more of the compartments at once, this construction beingnecessary in a gas-meter in order that the flow of gas from onecompartment may begin before that from a preceding one has been cut off,so that a constant flow of gas may be maintained. Moreover,- I proposeto so construct the valve that it will admit gas to the descendingcompartments until the same reach a point below a horizontal linepassing through the axis of the drum, so that the filling of thecompartments will be aided by the gravity of the diaphragms, the weightof which will tend to distend the compartments as soon as thecompartment reaches a position in which the descent of the diaphragm bygravity will carry it outward or away from the axis of the drum. l

A valve embodying the above-named features of construction may be madein a number of different ways, but I prefer for simplicity ofconstruction and ease of operation a rotary valve or one consisting ofstationary and movable parts, of which the movable part is rotative andis attached to and turns with the drum itself. A valve of this kind istherefore shown in the accompanying drawings as illustrating onepracticable embodiment of my invention. In such rotary valve thestationary and movable parts will be provided with ports, of which thosein the part attached to the drum are connected with the compartments ofthe same, and those in the stationary part will communicate with the gassupply and delivery pipes, and to secure the result above stated, of acontinuous iiow of gas through the meter, I propose to make the ports inthe stationary part of such size or length circumferentially that theywill be in communication with two of the ports in the rotating part atonce, or, in other words, of such length as to extend at each end beyondthe part of the movable valve seat which separates the ports therein.

Referring now to the construction illustrated in means for revolublysupporting the drum and in the means by which the gas is admitted to andallowed to escape from the compartments, these parts are shown in thedrawings as follows: The drum B is provided with a centrally-arrangedtube or sleeve I, which extends between and is attached to the end wallsof the drum and to which the radial partitions J are attached at theirinner edges. Pivotal support for the drum is afforded by means of afixed hollow shaft C, which passes through the sleeve I and on which thedrum turns. Said shaft C is supported at its ends on the end walls ofthe case A and at its end adjacent to the chamber D extends through theend wall into said chamber and is in open 4communication therewith, Fig.2.

The opposite end of said shaft is supported on the opposite end wall ofthe case by means of a bracket F, provided with a recess in which theshaft rests. The end of the shaft at this end of the case communicateswith the interior of the case, outside of the drum, by means of asuitable opening, herein shown as formed by leaving a space between theextremity of the shaft and the adjacent inner surface of the side wallof the case. The said shaft is provided with a central plug or diaphragmG, which prevents the passage of gas therethrough.

In one side of the shaft C and near the inlet end thereof is formed aslot or port H, and upon the opposite side thereof, at the opposite ordischarge end of the shaft and beyond the plug G, is formed acorresponding slot or opening H'. The said sleeve Ihas formed in it, inthe same plane with the opening H, a plurality of inlet-ports L,corresponding in number with the compartments of the dru m and severallyopening into the said compartments. Similarly near its opposite end saidsleeve I is provided with similarlyarranged exit-ports L'. Said inletand outlet ports L L operate, in connection with the openings H H in theshaft C, to form avalve by which the entrance of gas to and its exitfrom the compartments are controlled.

By reason of the arrangement of the ports described one or more of theinlet-ports L and exit-ports L of the drum will always be opposite thesupply and exit ports H H of the hollow axle C, so that the gas willflow constantly from the chamber D to the compartments at the descendingside of the drum and also from the compartments at the rising side ofthe drum into the casingAand thence to the delivery-pi pe M. As beforeexplained, the entering gas expands the compartments of the descendingside by forcing the plates K outwardly into convex form, while the gasis expelled from the compartments at the rising side of the drum by theforcing inwardly of the plates K into concave form, as clearly seen inFig. 3, the rotation of the drum being caused by the disturbance of thebalance caused by such shifting of the walls or plates, as beforedescribed.. It follows from the above that each compartment will besuccessively filled and exhausted, the same being iilled as it isdescending at one side of the drum when its inlet-portL coincides withthe port H, and being emptiedwhen at the rising side of the drum whenits exit-port L coincides with the port H. The said ports H and H aremade of a length circumferentially which is greater than the distancebetween the two adjacent ports of the drum, and it follows from this construction that gas will begin to enter each of the compartments beforeit is cut olf from the adjacent one in advance of it and will similarlycontinue to flow from each of the compartments before it ceases to flowfrom the adjacent one in ad- IOO IIO

IIS

Vance of it. This construction therefore insures a continuous,uninterrupted, and uniform flow of gas through the' apparatus regardlessof variations of pressure or quantity used. V

As another important feature of construction in the valve the ports Hand H are so arranged that they will supply gas to and permit its exitfrom each compartment duringthe time the Sameis descending and until itreaches a point at which its diaphragm is so far below the level of theaXis of the drum that it will tend to open or move outwardly by theaction of gravity. For this purpose the ports H and H are shown asextending each through somewhat more than a quarter of a circle at oneside of the hollow axle C. In the particular construction illustrated,Fig. 4, the gas will continue to How into each descending compartmentuntil such compartment reaches a point nearlybeneath the axle. Thearrangement of the said ports exactly as shown is not essential,however, it only being necessary that the supply of gas to thedescending compartment be continued until the diapliragms shall reachsuch position that they will gravitate outwardly, and thus by theirweight aid in the expansion of the compartments.

An important and valuable result secured by the' arrangement of theports last above referred to is that the full expansion'of thecompartments necessary for completely filling the ports occurs when theWeight of the movable diaphragms at the descending side as Well as theopposite ones at the ascending side, together with that of the movableparts which are employed to connect the diaphragms with each other, isacting in a direction to force outwardly the diaphragms of thecompartment being AIilled and to force inwardly that compartment fromwhich the gas is being expelled. feature will be better understood byconsideration of the fact that the power to actuate the drum is derivedby the pressure of the gas only, and it is desirable that the leastpossible amount of pressure should be used in actuating the movablediaphragms. It will of course be understood that the pressure in thedelivery-pipe, leading from the meter, will be less than that in thesupplypipe, as such difference is necessary in order to produce anymotion at all in the diaphragms. At the same time it is desirable' thatthis dierence should be as small as possible, because the difference inpressure at the supply and discharge sides of the meter represents theloss of pressure arising from the operation of the meter or powerconsumed in actuating the same. From motives of economy it is thereforedesirable that the power required for actuating the meter should be assmall as possible, and it is also desirable that the meter should beactuated by a slight pressure, because the less power required the moresensitive and accurate will be the action The importance of this' of themeter in the measurement of the gas. Obviously by so constructing thevalve that the gravity of the moving parts shall aid in moving saiddiaphragms less pressure of gas is required for this purpose and themeter operates more easily and by a less pressure than would otherwisebe the case. Vhen the valve is arranged as shown, the entering gas willhave moved the diaphragms about half of their stroke only when thecompartment is horizontally opposite the center of the drum, so that agreater part of the movement of the diaphragm takes place when thelatter is nearly in a vertical plane or afterward and when the weight ofthe plates K acts to a little or no extent against the gas-pressure.After the diaphragm passes below such horizontal line the weight of thesaid plates and connected moving parts of course supplements thegas-pressure, as above pointed out.

Anotherirnportant feature of my invention is involved in the use of thetight inclosure or case A, which surrounds the drum, in connection witha construction of the parts by which the space within such case andbetween the same and the drum is subject to the pressure of the gas atthe delivery or outlet side of the drum. This result is secured in theconstruction shown by permitting the gas to pass from the compartmentsof the drum directly into said case and by connecting the delivery-pipewith the case, so that all the gas passes through such case on its wayto the delivery-pipe. This particular construction, however, affordsonly one way of securing communication between the gas-delivery passageand the interior of said case, and the same result may be obtained byother mechanical arrangements of the parts. As a result of maintainingback pressure of gas within Athe case A, as described, such pressurewill act on the outer surface of the several movable walls or diaphragmsof the compartments, so that the effective pressure for filling thecompartments and moving said diaphragms will not be equal to that withthe supply-pipe, but will be only equal to the difference in pressuresin the supply and delivery pipes. The internal pressure on thediaphragms by which the same are moved is therefore much less than itwould be if the drum were operated without external pressure or in theopen air. If the drum were allowed to operate under the latterconditions, the pressure within the compartments as the same are beinglled would be equal to the full pressure in the gas-main, and thediaphragm being pushed out would be expanded with great pressure, whilethose of the compartments being emptied would be drawn inwardly with acorrespondingly great pressure by reason of the mechanical connectionsbetween the parts. Moreover, the strains brought on the said connectionsbetween the opposite diaphragms bysuch excessive pressure would maintainall of the parts under such tension as to greatly increase the fric-tionand thereby IIO lessen their freedom of movement, besides greatlyincreasing liability of leakage in the diaphragms and consequent loss ofgas. Fur thermore, the excessive pressure both in the compartments beingfilled and those being exhausted would tend to compress or bulge theflexible parts of the diaphragms outwardly between the edges of theplates, and this would considerably increase the capacity of thechambers being emptied and prevent the same from being exhausted totheir maximum extent. Such excessive pressure does not have the sameeffect 'on the compartments being filled, which in any case cannotreceive more than will effect their full distention, while thecompartments being emptied will still retain considerable gas when theplates are drawn inwardly to the fullest possible extent by reason ofthe bulging out of the flexible parts of the partitions as the platesare thrust inwardly, as above stated. The operation of the drum withoutexternal pressure, therefore, would be subject to two seriousdifficulties, namely, that the operative parts would be moved undergreat tension and with great increase of friction and liability ofleakage and that the measurement would be incorrect under variablepressures by reason of excessive pressure internally on the flexibleparts of the diaphragms of the compartments being emptied. When the external pressure is present, however, the conditions are very different,and the parts not only operate with much less friction and more easily,but the measurement of gas is much more accurate. As before stated, thedifference between the pressure inside and outside of the diaphragms isthat required to move the working parts only, and as this is very slightthe connections between the diaphragms at opposite sides of the drumsare ordinarily subjected to but a very slight strain or pressure. Thisis well shown by actual test of the apparatus, from which it may be seenthat in the working of the meter the pressure on the flexible parts ofthe diaphragm is very little and so slight that the said flexible partsare not flexed or bulged out to any material extent at all in themovement of the diaphragms. Moreover, the pressure on the diaphragms inthis construction is practically the same without regard to the actualpressure in the supply and delivery pipes, so that the strain on themoving or working parts is also practically the same, whether the gas besupplied under great or little pressure and whether the rate of iiowthrough the meter be rapid or slow. The presence of such externalpressure therefore has the important advantage of rendering uniform theconditions under which the working parts operate and of thereby insuringuniform and accurate action of the meter in the measurement of the gas.

I have shown in the drawings curved arms or plates K secured to theframes M, so as to move inwardly and outwardly with said frame.

These arms are so disposed with relation to the side wall of the case,or a stop or projection arranged at the side of the case opposite thecompartments which are descending and being filled, that the curved armswill be brought into contact with such stop or projection at the timethe compartments are being filled, thereby giving slight frictionalresistance to the turning of the drum at such time. Such frictionalresistance will retard the movement of the drum in case it should movetoo fast, and thus allow time for the complete filling of eachcompartment. Said arms are so arranged, moreover, that when thecompartments are full the arms will be retracted and will freely passthe stop,thereby leaving the drum free to turn except when the retardingdevice is needed. Such retard ing device for the drum, while it may beuse ful in some cases, will not be necessary when the meter is workingunder ordinary conditions and circumstances, and its presence will notusually be necessary for theproper operation of the device.

Anotherimportant advantage gained by the construction described is thatwater which may be condensed in the several 'compartments will, byreason of the arrangement of the radial partitions J and the centralarrangement of the inlet and outlet valve ports with respect to thedrum, pass through the said ports into the case A or chamber D and maybe drawn off from time to time through valves O or otherwise. Thepresence of water of condensation in the compartments of the drum or incontact with the moving parts or diaphragms is thus prevented.

An important advantage gained by the construction constituting myinvention is that the registering or recording mechanism is actuateddirectly by the rotary movement of the compartments in which the gas ismeasured, thereby avoiding the use of levers or othersimilarreciprocatingconnections. Moreover, the meter made as describedhas very few parts, may be cheaply and easily made, can be readilyrepaired, and is simple in opera` tion. Moreover, the drum beingindependent of the outer case, the latter can be readily opened toafford access to the working parts, which can be repaired and new partssubstituted for those worn out, thereby enabling defective parts to bereplaced without the necessity for an entirely new meter.

An important feature of the invention is embraced in the construction bywhich the valve is arranged to admit the gas to and permit its exit fromtwo adjacent compartments of the drum simultaneously, for the reasonthat this construction affords a constant and uniform flow of gasthrough the meter, this being essential to the successful working ofsuch a meter.

The special construction in the connections between the oppositediaphragms, in which such connections consist of frames extendingopposite the faces or sides of the drum and IIO across the end walls ofthe same, has the advantage of affording the proper connection betweensaid diaphragms in a simple and effective manner and without occupyingroom in the exterior case, it being obvious that the frames wardly fromthe axis of the drum to a distance materially greater than do thecorners or angles of the drum, so that the exterior casing need not bemade materially larger to accommodate said frames than it would be madeif the frames were absent.

I claim as my inventionl. Agas-metercomprisingarevolvingdrum providedwith a plurality of compartments having flexible walls or diaphragms,means acting on the diaphragms at the rising side of the drum to forcethe diaphragms inward, and a valve operated by the turning of the drumand constructed to admit the iiow of gas to and its exit from two of theadjacent compartments simultaneously,whereby a constant iiow of gasthrough the apparatus is maintained, substantially as described.

2. Agas-meter comprisingarevolving drum provided with a plurality ofcompartments having flexible walls or diaphragms, means acting on saiddiaphragms at the rising side of the drum to force said diaphragmsinwardly and a rotary valve comprising a valve-seat turning with thedrum and having ports leading to the several compartments, and astationary valve-seat having inlet and outlet ports which communicatewith gas inlet and outlet passages and are each of such length as toestablish connection with two adjacent ports in the moving part at once, substantially as described.

SpA gas meter comprising an l exterior closed case or inclosure, arevoluble drum mounted in said case and provided with a plurality ofcompartments each having a iiexible wall or diaphragm, means acting onthe said diaphragms at the rising side of the drum to force the sameinwardly and a valve actuated by the turning of the drum and operatingto admit gas to and permitv its escape from two adjacent compartments insuccession, substantially as described.

4. A gas-meter comprising a revoluble drum provided with a plurality ofcompartments having movable walls, a valve actuated by the turning ofthe drum and operating to admit the gas to vand permit its exit from thesaid compartments in succession and a closed casing surrounding thedrum, said casing being in communication with a discharging compartmentat the rising side of the drum, whereby a pressure is maintained on theoutside of the drum equal to that in the deliverypipe leading from themeter, substantially as described.

5. A gas-meter comprisingarevoluble drum having the form of a regularpolygon and divided into compartments by radial partitions extending tothe angles of the polygon, the sides of the drum consisting of movablewalls when so arranged do not extend outor flexible diaphragms, meansfor giving inward and outward movement to the walls or diaphragmswhereby those at opposite sides of the drum are moved together, and avalve actuated by the turning of the drum and acting to bring thecompartments successively into connection with inlet and outletpassages.

6. A gas-metercomprising arevoluble drum provided with a plurality ofcompartments each having a movable wall, and a valve actuated by theturning of the drum for supplying gas to and permitting its escape fromthe several compartments in succession, said valve being constructed tomaintain the gasinlet in communication with each compartment during thedescent of the latter at one side of the axis of the drum from a pointabove to a point below the axis whereby the weight of the movable wallswill aid in filling l the compartment, substantially as described.

7. A gas-1n eter comprising arevoluble drum provided with a plurality ofcompartments each having a movable wall, means acting on the saidmovable walls to throw those on the ascending side inward when those onthe descending side are thrown outward, and a valve comprisingstationary and rotating valve-seats arranged concentrically to the axisof the drum, the stationary valve-seat having elongated ports whichsupply gas to the compartments continuously during their descent at oneside of the axis of the drum from a point above to a point below theaxis of the same and permit its escape from said compartments duringtheir ascent at the opposite side thereof, to a point above said axis,substantially as described.

8. A gas-meter comprising a revoluble druin having the form of a regularpolygon and having a plurality of compartments, the outer walls of whichare formed by flexible diaphragms, a valve actuated by the turning ofthe drum and acting to bring the compartments successively intoconnection with inlet and outlet passages, and .means for connecting thediaphragms on opposite sides of the drum, comprising rigidframes havinglongitudinal parts which extend over the iiexible outer walls of thecompartments, and transverse connecting parts which extend across theends of the drums, substantially as described.

9. In a meter for measuring gas, an exterior casing, a hollow stationaryshaft fixed therein having one end connected with a source of supply,and the other end discharging within the casing, a compartment-drumhaving a central sleeve fitting and turnable upon the exterior of theiixed hollow shaft, radial diaphragms extending from the sleeves to theangles of the drum7 iiexible exterior weighted sides movable to and fromthe center whereby the chambers in the drum are successively enlargedand contracted, passages through the stationary shaft and thedrum-sleeve which are coincident when it ar- IOO IIO

IZO

' rives at a certain point in its rotation whereby gas may flow into thecorresponding member, other passages adapted to coincide upon theopposite end and opposite side of the shaft and sleeve, whereby thecontraction of said opposite chamber will expel the gas, and connectionsbetween each opposite pair of movable sides whereby the expansion of oneacts to contract the other.

10. In a gas-meter an exterior case having a horizontal hollow shaftfixed therein,the central part of said shaft being closed and the endsslotted upon opposite sides, a receiving-chamber exterior to the casingA upon one side with which the receiving end of the hollow shaftcommunicates, a bracket within the casing A by which the opposite end ofthe shaft is supported so that the discharge end opens into the exteriorcasing, a compartment-drum, the exterior sides of which are adapted toexpand and contract so as to enlarge and diminish the compartments, asleeve extending through the center of the drum fitting and turnableupon the stationary shaft C, slots or openings made in said sleeve,opening into each compartment and coinciding at one point of therevolution of the drum with the inlet-slots of the stationary shaft,

other slots formed at the opposite end of thesleeve from eachcompartment adapted to coincide with the discharge-slot of thestationary shaft upon the opposite side of the inlet, connections madebetween the movable sides of each two opposite compartments of the drumwhereby the expansion of one of said sides acts directly to contract theopposite side and expel the contents of its compartment, a register andmechanism connecting it with the drum whereby the amount passing throughthe apparatus is indicated.

1l. In a gas-meter, an exterior containing case, a gas-supply chamber atone end, a fixed central hollow centrally-closed shaft, one end of whichopens into said gas-supply chamber and the other is supported so as todeliver within the main exterior case and a dischargepassage from saidcase, a compartment-drum having a sleeve tting and turnable upon thestationary shaft slots in said sleeve connecting with each compartmentat opposite ends, a slot made in the stationary shaft near the inlet andwith which each of the compartments is successively brought intocommunication by the rotation of the drum whereby gas is allowed toenter the compartment and expand the outer movable side, a correspondingslot in the opposite end of the stationary shaft situated upon the`opposite side thereof with which each of the compartments successivelycommunicates after having been filled and the connection with the supplycut off, yokes or frames surrounding the drum out of contact therewithand standards by which the opposite sides of said frames are connectedwith the movable sides of the opposite compartments of the drum wherebythe expansion of one compartment acts directly to contract the other andexpel the gas therefrom, and to so change the relative weights of thesides of the drum that the latter will be constantly rotated by theinflow and expulsion of the gas.

12. In a gas-meter, an exterior containing case with a supply-chamber,and a dischargepassage, a iixed hollow centrally-closed shaft, one endof which communicates with the supply-chamber and the other with theinterior of the case, a compartment-drum with outwardly-expansible sidesand a central bearing-sleeve revoluble upon the fixed shaft, slots inthe shaft and sleeve near the inlet end, which coincide so that eachchamber is filled with gas while traveling downward, discharge-slotswhich coincide when the chambers are traveling up the opposite side,rods connecting the movable sides of oppositelysituated chambers,whereby the expansion of the filling-chambers acts to contract anddischarge those with which they are connected, curved arms carried bythe movable sides and a stop so disposed that the arms carried by thechambers about to be emptied, will engage the stop and regulate themovement of the drum and each chamber will be expanded and filled andthe one connected with it correspondingly contracted before the arms canpass the stop. y

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ELIAS B. DE LA MATYR. l

Witnesses:

J. J WARNER, JOHN A. BEcxwrrH.

